Folding box.



No. 020,301. PATENTBD MAY s, 1906.

L. F. HALE.-

FOLDING B0X. APPLICATION FILED APB. 25, l1904.

IHNEN# No. 820,301. PATENTBD MAY 8, 1906. I P., HALE.

FOLDING BOX.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 25, 1904.

B SHEETS-SHEET 2.

LAWRENCE F. HALE, OF SANTA ANNA, TEXAS.

FOLDING BOX.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 8, 1906.

Application filed April 25, 1904. Serial No. 204,864.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, LAWRENCE F. HALE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Santa Anna, in the county of Coleman and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates particularly to paper boxes formed from a single-blank, and the object is to construct a box of this character capable of being folded into compact form, so as to be carried in the pocket when not in use and a further object is to provide, in connection with the box, a handle-strap which can be readily disposed .within the folded box without disengagement and be so attached as to assist when in use in maintaining the box distended, as well as furnishing, by reason of the manner of its attachment, a firm support for the bottom of the box, thereby relieving very materially the closure proper from sustaining the weight of the contents when the box is carried.

The invention also aims to construct the box from a blank so formed as to effect the desired result with the `greatest possible economy in the use of the material from which theI blank is cut.

The invention consists, therefore, in the several features of construction and arrangement of parts, all as hereinafter described, and specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, in which my invention is fully illustrated, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the box in its distended form; Fig. 2, a longitudinal vertical section view; Fig. 3, a transverse vertical section view, Fig. 4, a top view showing the cover thrown back and disclosing the interior folding parts with the end sides thereof and the handle-straps folded on the bottom; Fig. 5, a vertical section view taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4 and looking in the direction of the arrow shown in said figure, Fig. 6, a view similar to Fig. 4, but showing'i'the inner folding side with its folding end braces folded down onto the bottom g Fig. 7, aview similar to Fig. 4, but showing the interior folding parts folded onto the bottom and with the bottom folded against the rear wall of the box; Fig. 8, a view similar to Fig. 4, showing the outer walls or sides of the box collapsed; Fig. 9, a

erspective view showing the completelyfolded form of the box; and Fig. 10, a view showing, in reduced size, the unfolded blank from which the box is formed.

Referring to the drawings, and especially to Fig. 10, 1 indicates the rear side of the box and forms the central part of the blank and is defined by the dotted fold-lines 2. The blank is so formed as to leave rectangular extensions 3 on each side of this central part to form when folded on the lines 2 and 4 end sides 5 and the front side 6, the latter being formed by the outer portions of said extensions 3, which portions are brought together and overlapped, as shown, and secured together by metal fasteners 6a or in any suitable manner to make the union permanent. The top 7 of the box is formed by an extension from the rear side or part 1 and is preferably provided with wings 8, which are adapted to be folded under the top to reinforce the same along the edge thereof and present a wearing edge of greater durability and finish.

On the side of the part 1 opposite to the top extension the blank is formed with an extension which comprises the bottom 9 of the box and the end flaps 10, side flap 11 forming extensions of the bottom and the stays or braces 12 forming end extensions of the side flap 11. This bottom extension of the blank is formed with a narrow portion 13, separating the bottom 9 from the fold-line 2, the urpose of which is to support the bottom of) the box above the lower edge of the sides, as the strip or portion 13 is designed to be folded back onto the rear side 1, Figs. 2, 3, and 5, and permanently secured thereto by the metal fasteners 13a, as shown, or in any suitable manner. It will be observed that by supporting the bottom of the box above the lower edge of the side not only is the bottom protected generally, but the same is prevented from sinking below the edges of the box, especially at the end sides 5, which by extension below the bottom thus prevent any opening occurring at the`-r ends of the box from any sagging tendency of the bottom that may occur.

The primary object of the end flaps 10 is to furnish a support for the bottom direct from the handle-strap when the box is being carried, thus making the support of the bottom independent of the sides of the box at such times and, further, forming, with the side flap 11 and the braces 12, an interior structure which makes the closure the more eective and maintains the outer sides of the box dis- IOO IIO

tended. These end flaps 10 are therefore connected, respectively, to the attaching ends of the handle-strap 14, which passes through a slot 15 in the end sides 5, and thereby furnishing a support for the 'exterior structure of the box as well.

The handle-strap is formed of two members 14a and 14h, designed to connect, preferably, over the center of the top. This provision readily admits of the strap being withdrawn from the slot 15 and disposed within the box without interfering with a compact folding of the same. To further facilitate the adjustment of the handle-strap and its compact folding, I have shown each member thereof provided with an extension formed of two sheet-metal members 16 and 17, pivoted one on the other. One of the members 17 is provided with a loop 17a and the other with a hook 17b for coperation with said loop. These pivoted members may be folded one on the other or disposed as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, in which the end flaps 10 are shown folded onto the bottom, this being the first step in reducing the box to its folded form and the last in setting up the box.

The side flap 11 in the set-up box is at right angles to the bottom and lies against the front side of the box, while the braces 12 extend at right angles to the side flap and are held between the outer ends 5 and the bot tom end flaps 10, respectively, as will be seen by reference to Fig. 2, the outer ends of these braces coming into contact with the rear side of the box.

In the reduction operation the folding of the braces 12 on the side flap 11 (shown in Fig. 5 and by dotted lines in Fig. 4 is the second step, and this is followed by folding the side flap down on the bottom and on top of the end flaps 10, Fig. 6. The bottom, with its attached parts so folded, is then folded on the line 13b against the rear side 1 of the box,

` Fig. 7, leaving the outer side structure of the box to be collapsed on the previously-folded structure, as shown in Fig. 8, the end sides 5 being vertically creased at 5b to cause each to fold inward and double upon itself. The final step of folding down the cover, so as to cause it to lie against the front side of the box, is next completed, and the strap 1S, which in the opened-out box is adapted to fasten on a button or stud 19 on the front of the box, is now carried around the open side of the folded structure and fastened on a button or stud 20, located on the rear side of the box for that purpose.

It will be seen from the foregoing that the box is constructed from a blank in which all parts are integral; but it is obvious that this integral construction can be departed from in the practice of my invention and be within its spirit and scope. In this connection it may be desirable to add tothe construction the provision herein shown for reinforcing the outer structure and. forming a bottomsupport by the addition of the strip 21, centrally connecting the rear and front sides at the bottom of the box, which strip is transversely creased at 21a to fold inwardly and upon itself when the box is collapsed.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A folding box havin@ the sides thereof iiexibly connected one to the other to form a completed side structure and having two opposite sides of said side structure adapted to fold inwardly between the other two sides thereof, a bottom connected to one of the non-folding sides and adapted to be folded thereon, a top connected to one of said nonfolding sides and adapted to be folded about the top edges of the collapsed side structure and against the front side thereof, securing means carried by said top, means carried by the front side of said structure adapted to engage said securing means when the said structure is extended,v and means carried by the rear side of said structure adapted to engage said securing means when said structure is collapsed.

2. A folding box comprising a collapsible vside structure having two opposite sides thereof adapted to fold between the other two sides, a bottom connected to one of the non-folding sides and adapted to be folded thereon, a top connected to one of said nonfolding sides and adapted to be folded about the top ed es of the collapsed side structure and onto t e front side thereof, and a securing-strap connected to the top adapted to engage fastening means on the front side of the box when the box is distended and to engage fastening means on the rear side of thel box when the box is collapsed, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof l have signed my name to this specification in presence of two witnesses. I

L. F. HALE.

Witnesses:

S. J. PIERATT, S. H. PHILLIPS.

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